Author of two goals in the last three Serie A matches, Timothy Weah is the man in form at the start of autumn for Juventus: and it must be admitted, few followers black and white could have predicted such a scenario last July, when his American international returned with his head down from a Copa América at home completely missed by Team USA, exited in the group stage and during which Weah saw red for a nasty blow against Panama (1-2). Even more, it was the arrival of Thiago Motta on the Turin bench which foreshadowed an uncertain future for the player trained at Paris Saint-Germain, the new technician not placing him on the list of “non-transferable” players during the transfer window summer and fueling rumors of transfers to Lens or Everton in particular. Not pushed out but not particularly wanted, “Timmy” had to fight to prove his importance in the Turin squad, as he has always done since his professional debut.
Pistonné by Paulo Fonseca
His first season in Piedmont with 35 matches played in all competitions was not ridiculous, without having enough to fully convince Juve supporters. Repeated injuries and serious irregularity in performance which will not have surprised LOSC fans, where the former Dogue blew hot and cold for four seasons and 107 matches, winning the fourth French championship title in the process. of the club's history under the nose of his training club PSG. Often considered in the North as a luxury offensive joker and barred by successive competition from Ikoné, Bamba, Luiz Araujo, Burak Yılmaz or David, the New Yorker has always been important in the Lille rotation, without imposing himself like a real holder.
You know, if you need someone to play behind, you know who to count on!
However, it is during the 2022-2023 season that the player's career will take another turn, when his coach Paulo Fonseca places him on the flank of the defense following numerous injuries on the Dogue side. A choice which is not entirely the result of chance, as the person concerned recounted in the columns of The Athletic last week: “I always joked in training about that. You know, if you need someone to play behind, you know who to count on! » A take of initiative appreciated and rewarded by very good performances on the right flank of the northern defense, to the point of making him a potential starter. Repeated performances which led the Juve scouts to sniff out the right move, and Massimiliano Allegri, then coach, to convince President Agnelli to take out the checkbook and pay around 11 million euros to secure his services. It is therefore at the heart of a 3-5-2 and in a right piston role that Tim Weah is experiencing his first season with the Old Lady, capable of brilliant shots as during his first friendly match against Real Madrid (3-1 victory) where he was elected MVP, like long crossings of the desert during a year of ups and downs.
More and more decisive in Serie A
The dismissal of Allegri and the induction last summer of Thiago Motta, more adept at a 4-2-3-1 that he had already successfully experimented with at Genoa and Bologna, therefore had nothing good news for TW22, considered less secure defensively than Andrea Cambiaso, the coach's favorite. Thiago Motta nevertheless knows Weah very well, who he saw join the PSG professional group during his last months as a player, at the end of the 2017-2018 season. Even playing two Ligue 1 matches under the same jersey, in Troyes (0-2) then in Caen (0-0), the Motta sentry had plenty of time to discover the beginnings of the talent of young Weah, center forward of training. In the mind of the now coach Motta, Timothy is an offensive player: despite yet another injury which will have taken him away from the field during September, he is therefore integrated into the offensive rotation of the Bianconeri since the start of the season, where he has to face serious competition, between the talented Dutch Koopmeiners, his American BFF McKennie, the other son of Conceição or even the Turkish nugget Yildiz (19 years old).
A plurality of options for Motta, who does not hesitate to start each player depending on his current form. And in this game, it is currently Timothy Weah who is doing well: scorer in the league against Inter (4-4) then against Parma (2-2) three days later, the international American has a string of good performances and regularly integrates the 11 without anyone finding anything to complain about. And while he has already exceeded his statistical record from last year (3 goals and 2 assists, compared to 1 goal and 2 assists), Motta could only praise “its importance in the transition phase” last week at a press conference. His versatility, which has nevertheless been able to play tricks on him in the past, is now the delight of Juve, who adore both his speed and his defensive returns, in a country where defensive structure is king.
Mister George validates Juve
Perfectly integrated into the Italian locker room, Timmy feels good in Turin, as he always confided to The Athletic. The ideal club to take a real step forward in your progress? It's yes according to the father, who did not fail to panic the transalpine media last week, during the Ballon d'Or ceremony when the 1995 winner declared “have always been a fan of the Old Lady” despite his natural attachment to AC Milan. Proud of the offspring, George Weah could only welcome the current form of his son, whom he considers ready to take a step forward at Juve and finally find some regularity. A progression closely followed by the new American coach Mauricio Pochettino, who is counting on Timothy to take the USA to the world title at home in 2026. Lille supporters, who hold Weah in esteem for the good and loyal services rendered, will however keep their fingers crossed tonight so that their ex can find a little irregularity for an evening.
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